How to transition a classroom game into a larger event.

Many trainers use Gameshow Pro in their classrooms; in small-to-medium sized groups in a somewhat-intimate atmosphere. The energy it brings to the smaller training class is undeniable; it increases engagement, participation and content retention.

But can the small classroom solution translate into something like, say, a larger event? Sure a game show is fun in training a small group of sales reps, but what about in a room of 500? Will it even work? How does one even begin transitioning from a classroom game into a larger event game?

The answers are: Yes, game shows translate into large events. Yes, they invigorate a large group in the same way they add energy and interaction in a small group. Yes, it has worked time and time again.

And here are a few strategies and considerations for transitioning a classroom game into a game within a larger event:

Team selection: Whereas everyone in a small class may get to directly participate on a team, that's not always possible in a larger group. There are three options for team engagement in a big-group game show:

1. Use audience-response keypads: If enough are available, giving everyone in the audience an audience response keypad is the most straightforward way of engaging everyone. Audience members can individually play along, but Gameshow Pro also allows you to group individuals on teams--creating a compelling, competitive dynamic. No "stage teams" are needed in this scenario.
2. Use a mix of keypads and on-stage players: You may also want to have representative team members playing on stage to "ham it up" or to take the audience response into consideration for their answers.
3. Use representative players on stage: Even if you have no keypads, you can engage and entertain everyone by selecting members of the audience to come play on a smaller team onstage. The rest of the audience members are still "part of" the team--they're responsible for cheering the team on and may reap some rewards if their team wins--but they don't have to directly interact with the game on stage. 

Host selection: While a small classroom game can be a scalable event--from a quiet Tic-Tac-Toe game to a rousing Classroom Feud--with a large event, bigger and broader is better. You'll want to make sure that your host is able to play to the crowd as well as team members, educate when needed, and to keep things moving. This doesn't need to be a professional emcee, but it should be someone who enjoys the spotlight and is very comfortable on stage--where anything can happen.

Simplify the rules: In a classroom you may have a chance to answer clarifying questions about the game rules as you go along. In a larger group this may not be possible, or it may be harder to control chaos from unclear rules as you go along. Make sure your game show rules are simple, clear and that everyone knows them. Playing a sample game question to get audience members familiar with the format, keypads and game logistics is a great idea.

Have someone else run the game: It's easy to click-through a game show (especially using Game Show Pro) and host at the same time in a smaller classroom. In a larger event setting, you'll want your computer hooked in to the A/V equipment and that may preclude you from controlling the game. Even if you do have access to the game controls, hosting and running through the game on stage in a large setting takes a lot more energy and focus than you'll want to spend. Get a colleague or technician to run the game software for you if you can.

Format selection: You may want to switch out a traditionally formatted game for alternate game play when bringing it on the big stage. For instance, we often make Tic-Tac-Toe into a Hollywood-Squares-Type game, utilizing different experts and presenters throughout the game.

When in doubt? Call in the experts. We'd be happy to help you transition your classroom game into a larger event.

Question Bowl: The Underutilized Game Show

Gameshow Pro has 7 game show formats, and by far the most popular is the Jeopardy!-style "Categories" game. (This is with good enough reason; it's easy to use, easy to understand, culturally ubiquitous, accommodates many categories of content, etc.)

However, the reason there are 7 game formats instead of one or two, is that different formats will accommodate different content and purposes. For instance, a Classroom Feud game is great for content with multiple steps or any questions with multiple correct answers.

One of the best, and also least-played, games in the Gameshow Pro arsenal is Question Bowl. This highly theatrical, versatile game is plays like a College or Quiz Bowl and is great in both the classroom and at events. Here are three reasons why it should get more use:


Variable question types: There are three question/round types in Question Bowl:
Toss Up--This is a question format similar to those used in Categories. A question is displayed and teams "ring in" to get the opportunity to answer the question. (Note: this can also be toggled so that teams take turns answering the toss up questions.)

Follow Up/Bonus--These questions optionally follow a toss up question. They can only be answered by the team that answered the toss up question. This is a great way to elaborate on a topic. A trainer can add as many follow up/bonus questions as they'd like...or none at all.

Speed Round--Teams must answer as many questions as they can get through in a set amount of time. If they're quick to respond, this can be a great way to rack up the game points. These questions can be toss-up/ring in or take-turns.

Leisurely or Fast-Paced, Competitive or Collaborative game: The way a trainer sets up the game can make it useful for extended play (with lots of toss-up/follow-up questions) or can facilitate quick bursts of energy within a training session (speed rounds). The game accommodates multiple choice or short answer questions, and trainers can choose whether teams are ringing in to answer questions, or whether teams take turns to answer questions.

Flexible rounds: Questions can be used in any combination of rounds. For instance, a trainer could have 3 toss-up questions (with our without various follow-up/bonus questions) then two speed rounds, a take-turns question round, a toss-up question round and then end with a speed round. These rounds can be combined in any order and at any frequency--making the variety in game play almost infinite.

Hey! Keep it Down in There!

We recently helped a client Gameshow Pro 5 in their educational workshop.

This session was part of a multi-day event, and attendees could sign up for any session that they so chose. Groups would rotate after a set amount of time--giving attendees the opportunity to be in more than one session and making the presenters give multiple presentations with the same content.

When our client came to us, they were concerned about the interest level of their content. This was a sales group we were dealing with, and they had heard all about the new customer management system (the topic of their workshop), but they weren't adopting the technology as the sales leaders had hoped. So how were they going to generate excitement around not-new information?

With a game show, of course*!

The workshop ended up being structured like so (game show sections in italics):

Welcome

Introductory game questions (2 questions using Gameshow Pro 5's AllPlay game)

Subject: Account Planning

Review game: Account Planning (5 questions: GSP5 AllPlay)

Subject: Customer Management System

Review game: CMS (5 questions: GSP5 AllPlay)

Summary, additional info and questions

Review game: Both topics (6 questions: GSP5 Classroom Feud)

Closing words

We divided the audience of 60 into two teams--based on the complex criteria of being either on the left or right side of the room. For the AllPlay games, every member of the audience had their own keypad and entered answers individually--the percentage of correct answers going toward their team's score. For the Classroom Feud game, we took several volunteers from each side to come up and play for their team (while the audience cheered them on).

The entire session ended up being about 90 minutes--with games interspersed to keep the energy high.

And boy, was the energy ever high! Aside from a marked increase in attention to the content (just in case anything came up in a game), and retention of the content (as seen in tracking their individual responses) there were two stand-out results:

1. Since the workshop breakout rooms were beside each other at the hotel, you could hear the game being played in other classes. Not the game sound effects, mind, but the cheering, encouragement and general good time. One of the other leaders--jokingly--asked the facilitators to "Keep it down in there!"

2. As a result of the energy spilling out of the room, spontaneous attendance to the workshops increased dramatically. The client had people come up and say, "I know I wasn't signed up for your class, but do you have room for one more..." People *wanted* to come in and play, because it sounded like there was life and energy in the session. It attracted quite the crowd, and as a result MORE people received and retained the information than would have otherwise.

The game shows were a great success. Both the presenters and the audience had a tremendous amount of fun--but it wasn't fun without a purpose. Most importantly: the audience walked away with the message.


*Disclaimer: Game shows may not be the answer to everything... just most things. ;)

What'll be new in 2011?

2010 was an amazing year for game shows in training!

Here at LearningWare, we:

• Developed new ways to embed AllPlay Web within a webinar using Adobe Connect, omNovia and other platforms. 
• Got a new keypad partner in Meridia--allowing for our customers to have greater flexibility with their audience response keypad choices. 
• Released Gameshow Pro 5--adding new game boards, a new design, a new backend, AllPlay functionality and MORE to the most popular game show software for training.
• And more (including moving into a new office)!

BUT we're not resting on our laurels. Here's what's on the docket SO FAR for 2011:

• New games for QuizPoint, our popular online game show software.
• New games for AllPlay Web, bringing more variety and engagements into webinars, elearning and virtual classrooms.
• An iPad control app: The ability to completely control our Gameshow Pro 5 software using your iPad.
• OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 Construction games: Pre-packaged, plug-and-play games making OSHA training entertaining, effective and far more engaging.

But that's just a start. Going into the next year, we'll continue to innovate by leaps and bounds--helping instructors deliver more engaging, effective and fun training.

So what do you want to see in 2011?

Training Just Got More Exciting: LearningWare Releases Gameshow Pro Version 5

LearningWare; Minneapolis, MN.  November 1, 2010: LearningWare, the experts in using game shows for training, is pleased to announce the release of Gameshow Pro Version 5. Gameshow Pro version 5 combines 7 different Hollywood-style game show templates with LearningWare’s popular AllPlay assessment software functionality. This means that trainers can quickly create their own Hollywood-style game shows in their classrooms using their own content for preview, teaching, review, assessment, energizers and more.

Using game shows in training is one of the most effective ways to increase content retention. The competition and game show experience provides a unique way to engage every trainee in a classroom; reinventing the sometimes-dry or dull training experience. Gameshow Pro is already in use in over 35,000 classrooms by trainers worldwide, and is loved by both trainers and trainees alike.

First launched in 1995, Gameshow Pro is now being released in its 5^th version. It features 7 different TV-style game formats—one more than the previous release. The addition of AllPlay functionality means that each player can answer game questions using their own audience response keypad—for accurate tracking and assessment—OR players can use slammers to ring-in as a team for an exciting game show experience.

“The new release of Gameshow Pro 5 is a game-changer. Never before has it been so easy to bring game shows into the training classroom,” says Dan Yaman, President and Founder of LearningWare, “Not only does this give much-needed innovation to the industry, but it isn’t just a step forward—it’s a leap.”

The new release is a more full-bodied and powerful training tool, and it still retains its easy-to-use format. New and exclusive features include:

•     AllPlay assessment capability.

•     14 new game board designs—redesigned to range from corporate-sleek to Hollywood-splashy.

•     A robust question library with superior search-ability and sort-ability that makes it even easier to organize content.

•     Expanded ready-to-use sound and graphics libraries.

•     A redesigned interface that makes the game more intuitive than ever to use.

•     And many, many more.

People interested in getting a free 30-day trial to Gameshow Pro can visit www.learningware.com/gameshowpro.html

For more information on the newly released Gameshow Pro Version 5, please visit www.learningware.com, and call 1.800.457.5661 or email info@learningware.com.

Since 1995, LearningWare (www.learningware.com) has been producing software templates that have been proven to increase content comprehension and retention. They are the leading providers of game show software, and have products that include Gameshow Pro 5, QuizPoint and  AllPlay Web.

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Gameshow Pro 5 Exclusive Features.

Gameshow Pro 5 has a lot of exclusive features that you won't find in any other product. Here are just a few of our exclusive innovations--designed to make the software more functional for trainers and useful for learning. Take a look:

Gameshow Pro 5 Preview!

Gameshow Pro 5 is just moments away from release, and we are SO excited about the new version of our industry-leading product.

As Dan Yaman, our President and Founder says, "This is not only our most innovative software, but it's leaps and bounds above anything else that might be out there."

So what's new with Gameshow Pro--version 5? Let's take a journey in pictures!

New GSP5 Opening Screen

 We've re-designed Gameshow Pro 5 from the ground up. You'll notice that the logo looks different from any other product.

Throughout Gameshow Pro 5, you'll find cleaner, more modern, professionally designed graphics.

This isn't just beauty for beauty's sake, however. The graphic re-fresh also comes with increased ease-of-use, simplicity in form and an overall-intuitive feel.

GSP5 Back End

The "back end" of the product has also been completely redesigned. This is what the user sees when they are creating a game.

GSP5 Back End--Game Library

A few important feature highlights:

• It's now easier to switch between games, or to choose to only see one game at once (or all of your games).
• The question library is now beside the game questions--making it easier than ever to drag-and-drop questions for fast game creation.
• Tabs are now clearer and easier to navigate, improving the overall user experience.

GSP5 Question Editor

We've also improved the question editor, making it easier than ever to modify the layout of your question, the size and style of your text, your intro hint and info screens, and more.

Gameshow Pro 5 exclusive features include the ability to:

• Modify picture size and layout within the question.
• Manually or automatically size text.

• Add, edit and select to use or not use intro, hint and info screens.
• Select to add graphics, video and sound that you've already imported, or import new media.
• Add question description, topic AND difficulty level for super-easy sorting and sharing.
• Preview the entire question--graphics and all-- before playing the game.

GSP5 Graphic Library

We've increased the functionality of the user's graphic library--making it easier than ever to rename, sort, find, and re-use your graphics. No need to re-import if you want to re-use a graphic--they're all right there in an easy-to-access, easy to sort library.

Tic Tac Toe Title Screen

Are You Smarter Than.... custom title screen

 It isn't just the back end that's had a makeover, we've drastically changed the graphics in the games--including adding dozens of new title screen templates.

Users can still add their own graphics, put text over their own graphics, customize one of our templates AND they can now use any of these professionally-designed title screens.

Smack Down custom title screen

Some of the new game screens.

 In addition to the title screens, the game boards themselves have been redesigned for a fresh, clean look. These game "skins" allow trainers to have a variety of different looks--from corporate-sleek to Hollywood-style splashy--that they can change on a game-by-game basis. Classic game boards are also available.

The class list in AllPlay mode

Re-designed AllPlay screen

 Oh, and did we mention...there are now 7 different games in Gameshow Pro 5?

AND we've incorporated AllPlay functionality into the software? This means that each player can answer game questions using their own keypad—for accurate tracking and assessment—OR players can use slammers to ring-in as a team for an exciting game show experience.

Tic Tac Toe in AllPlay Mode

Currently our Categories, Tic Tac Toe and AllPlay games have AllPlay functionality--designed from the ground up to work perfectly with the natural game play of those programs. Assessment…review…preview…instruction…and more… Gameshow Pro 5 is the most advanced, easy-to-use, exciting and effective game show template software available!